PISCATAWAY, N.J. – No. 18/19 Northwestern softball secured the outright Big Ten regular season title on Friday afternoon as the Wildcats took the opening game of the series with Rutgers, 11-2, in six innings at the Rutgers Softball Complex.

Maddie Lawson connected on a home run to cut the Scarlet Knights' deficit to 5-2 at the end of four innings. The Wildcats, however, had runs in all six innings, coming up with a four-run fifth inning and two crossing the plate in the sixth, to secure the run-rule victory.

Rutgers fell to 31-23 overall and 8-13 in the Big Ten. Northwestern improved to 34-10 overall and 19-2 in league play.

No. 18/19 Northwestern 11, Rutgers 2 - 6 innings

• Maddie Lawson posted her first home run of the season with a two-run shot over the wall in left for both RU's runs. It was her third home run of her career.
• Morgan Smith scored her 37th run of the season off Lawson's home run.
• Lauren Punk and Katie Wingert also had hits in the loss.
• Raimy Gamsby fell to 8-9 throwing the first four innings with a pair of strikeouts. Ryann Orange and Ashley Hitchcock also had time inside the circle.

• A bases-loaded walk by Nikki Cuchran gave Northwestern its first run of the game in the top of the first.
• The Wildcats added two more in the second off a two-run home run to right field off the bat of Kansas Robinson.
• Northwestern extended its lead to 5-0 on an RBI double by Kelsey Nader in the third and Jordyn Rudd's solo homer down the left-field line in the fourth.
• Rutgers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Morgan Smith was aboard after getting hit by a pitch when Maddie Lawson came to the plate with two outs. The sophomore second baseman took a 2-0 count over the field in left as RU trailed 5-3.
• The Wildcats, however, tacked on four runs in the fifth. Skyler Shellmyer opened scoring walking in a run with the bases loaded. Scoring continued for Northwestern with an RBI single by Robinson, Rudd walking in a run and a sacrifice fly to left from Hannah Cady. On the sac fly, Rutgers was able to catch Rudd at first base to retire the side.
• Northwestern dropped in two more in the sixth off a Nader double and Grace Nieto RBI infield groundout.

The series continues on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Rutgers Softball Complex on Youth Softball Day with national anthem buddies and post-game autographs and running the bases. Before the game, Rutgers will honor the graduating Scarlet Knights. Admission is free.